KARACHI, Dec 10: Zone-III made a winning start in the KCCA Inter Zonal Cricket Championship with four wicket victory over Zone-II at National Stadium Tuesday thanks to a brilliant hundred by Nadeem Tariq.

Opener Nadeem clobbered seven boundaries and six sixes in his 112 as Zone-III reached the target with six overs to spare.

Fellow opener Muhammad Zafar provided him an excellent support with 53 laced with five boundaries. The pair added 118 runs for the first wicket to set-up victory.

Right arm leg spinner Muhammad Ali Zafar captured three wickets for 63 in 16 overs.

Earlier batting first, Zone-II scored 227for six in their 50 overs. Opener Naveed Khan cracked 79 and Atif Raza contributed 76, They added 107 runs for the fifth wicket after first four wickets had gone down for 56.

Medium pacer Rizwan Saeed picked four wickets for 58 runs in 16 overs and pacer Adeel Malik got 2-24.

Summarized scores: Zone-II 227-6 in 50 overs (Naveed Khan 79, Atif Raza 76; Rizwan Saeed 4-58, Adeel Malik 2-24); Zone-III 228-6 44 overs (Nadeem Tariq 112, Muhammad Zafar 53, Muhammad Ali Zafar 3- 63).—APP